Ten Minutes About:

Ten Minutes About: Hemorrhagic
Strokes
Kelly Wasielewski, RN, CRRN
MSN 621
Image taken from
google images
Hemorrhagic Strokes
Sally a 48 year old female was brought into the ER. Her
family stated that before taking a nap she was
complaining of a severe headache. She described it as
the “worst headache of her life.” She now presents
with a temperature of 99.4, a irregular heart rate of 58,
Respirations of 32 and irregular, and a blood pressure
of 215/74. She seems to comprehend, but when asked
questions she jumbles her words and gets easily
frustrated. She is unable to move her right arm and her
right leg is weak. Her health history includes anxiety,
diabetes mellitus, asthma, hypertension and polycystic
kidney disease.
Question 1
Question 4
Question 7
Hemorrhagic Strokes
• A Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding in
the brain.
Image used with
Permission of the
Internet Stroke Center
What you will learn about
hemorrhagic Strokes
•
•
•
•
•
•
Types of hemorrhagic strokes
Causes
Cerebral aneurysms
Signs and symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Types of hemorrhagic Strokes
There are two types of hemorrhagic strokes
Intra-axial Hemorrhage
Blood leaking into the brain
Extra-axial Hemorrhage
Blood leaking into the space just outside of the
brain
(Porth, 2008)
Images used with
Permission of the
Internet Stroke Center
Intra-axial Hemorrhages
• Intraparenchymal or intracerebral
• Most frequent fatal stroke.
• Occurs when a damaged blood vessel in the brain
bursts, causing blood to leak into the brain.
• The increase in blood, causes
pressure which damages the brain cells
and can cause death.
• Usually occurs in the basal ganglia,
cerebellum, brain stem or
cortex.
(Porth, 2008 and Internet Stroke Center, 2012)
Image used with
Permission of the
Internet Stroke Center
Intra-axial Hemorrhage Causes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Most common cause is Hypertension
Advancing age
Trauma
Erosion of vessels by tumors
Arteriovenous malformations
Blood coagulation disorders
Infections
Drugs
Photo from google images
Quick Question 1
When Sally came into the ER, what significant
sign did she have that could lead you to
believe that she has a Intracerebral
hemorrhage?
Back to case study
Hyperventilation
Hypertension
Fever
No, this is not a
common cause
Yes! This is a common
cause
No, this is not a
common cause
Signs and Symptoms of Intra-axial
Hemorrhage strokes
• Much the same as ischemic stokes
– Sudden onset, focal and usually one-sided. Determined by the cerebral
artery that is affected.
– Severe Headache.
– Sudden numbness or weakness of one side of the face and/or
extremities.
– Sudden dysarthia
– Sudden aphasia
• Receptive
• Expressive
• Global
– Sudden visual changes.
– Sudden trouble walking or loss of coordination.
(Porth, 2008)
Photo by: The Internet Stroke Center’s
permission
Question 2
• Sally is able to understand what people are
saying to her, but when she responds she says
the wrong words. She realizes that and
becomes very frustrated and angry. What
type of disorder is she portraying?
Global Aphasia
Receptive Aphasia
Expressive Aphasia
This is the combination
of Receptive and
Expressive aphasia
Receptive aphasia is the
inability to comprehend
what people are saying
Right! Inability to express
what she wants to say, but
able to understand
Diagnosis and Treatment of Intra-axial
Hemorrhage
• Diagnosis
– Based on history and physical exam, brain imaging studies
such as CT and MRI’s
• Treatment
– Aimed at preventing recurrent bleeds and medical
complications
– The risk of recurrence is highest the 1st week after injury
– Recovery is maximized with early and aggressive rehab.
(Porth, 2008)
Image from google images
Question 3
• If Sally is found to have a intracerebral
hemorrhage she will be started on treatment
to prevent further bleeding. Why is it
important to prevent recurrent bleeds after
diagnosis of a hemorrhagic stoke has been
made?
Recurrent stokes always
follow initial strokes
There is no need to prevent
recurring strokes
Although it is common,
recurrent stokes do not
always happen
Prevention of recurrent
stokes is an essential
treatment
Recurrent strokes most often
happen the 1st week after
initial stoke
Correct! The 1st week after
the initial stroke is often the
time for recurrent strokes
Extra-axial Hemorrhages
Epidural or Subdural hematoma
– Dura mater is the outer most layer of the 3 layer of meninges
that surround the brain and spinal cord.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
– Arachnoid mater is the middle layer
of the 3 meniges that surround the
brain and spinal cord.
Pia mater is the inner most layer.
Image from Wikipedia
Epidural Hematoma
• Bleeding between dura mater and skull
Causes
Skull fractures
more common in younger people because
the membrane covering the brain is not
firmly attached as in older people.
Subdural Hematoma
• Bleeding in the subdural space. Veins at
surface of the brain and dura stretch and tear,
which cause bleeding.
Causes
blood thinning medication,
alcoholism and frequent falls
in elderly.
Picture from Wikipedia with permission
Signs and symptoms of Epidural or
Subdural hematomas
• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Loss of consciousness
• Headache
• Nausea and/or vomiting
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
• Bleeding in the subarachnoid space, which is
the area between the brain and the tissues
that cover the brain.
Photo By: Wikipedia with permission from Heilman,
James MD
Subarachnoid Causes
• Major cause is by abnormalities of arteries at the base
of the brain, which are called cerebral aneurysms.
• Thought to arise from congenital defect in the area of
the involved blood vessels.
• Greater risk of aneurysm with people having polycystic
kidney disease, fibro muscular dysplasia, contraction of
aorta and arteriovenous malformation of brain.
• Other causes are arthrosclerosis, hypertension and
bacterial infections.
(Porth, 2008)
Image from The Internet Stoke Center’s
permission
Question 4
• After reviewing Sally’s health history, what
disease do you suspect could have contributed
to her possibly having an aneurysm?
Back to case study
Anxiety
Asthma
Not a contributing factor to
aneurysms
Not a contributing factor to
aneurysms
Polycystic Kidney disease
Yes this disease causes a
higher incidence of an
aneurysm
Signs and Symptoms of Subarachnoid
Hemorrhage/Cerebral aneurysms
Divided into 2 phases,
before and after rupture
Photo from Wikipedia with permission
Presentation before rupture
• Approximately 50% of people with SAH have a
history of atypical headache occurring days to
weeks before onset. This suggest the
presence of a small leak.
• The headaches are most
often sudden and accompanied
by nausea, vomiting and dizziness.
(Porth, 2008)
Presentation after rupture
• Sudden and severe headache, frequently labeled
as the “worst headache of my life”
• Sometimes accompanied by loss of
consciousness, vomiting, neck stiffness,
photophobia (light intolerance),
cranial nerve deficits of II, III and
IV (diplopia, blurred vision and focal motor and
sensory deficits).
• Hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias due to
massive release of catecholamines.
(Porth, 2008)
Test your knowledge
Question 5
• Sally’s blood pressure is 215/106, she has
been vomiting, has a stiff neck and is having
trouble experiencing diplopia. What could be
causing her increased blood pressure if you
are suspecting a Subarachnoid hemorrhage?
Massive release of
catecholamines
Right! SAH results in a massive
release of catecholamine's,
causing hypertension
Vomiting
Headache from increased
cranial pressure
Vomiting does increase BP,
but that is not the most
contributing factor
HA does increase BP, but
that is not the most
contributing factor
Diagnosis of Extra-axial Hemorrhages
•
•
•
•
Clinical presentation
CT scan
MRI
lumbar puncture to determine presence of blood in
cerebral spinal fluid
• angiography to identify an aneurysm at the source of
bleeding which is a definitive diagnostic tool to
detect an aneurysm
Treatment of Extra-axial Hemorrhages
– Depends on extent of deficit
– Craniotomy within 24 to 72 hours by inserting a clip
around the neck of an aneurysm to stop the bleeding
and/or removal of a hematoma
– Not a surgery candidate? Then balloon dilation and coiling
are considered for aneurysms which is less invasive
– Prevention of vasospasm (focal narrowing of cerebral
artery/arteries) usually treated to maintain adequate
cerebral pressure by use of vasoactive drugs (such as
Nimotop) and/or administration of IVF volume to produce
hemodilation.
– Anti seizure medication for prevention
– Aggressive rehab
(Porth, 2008)
Photo by: Internet Stroke
Center’s permission
Question 6
• It is confirmed via MRI that Sally has been
diagnosed with a Subarachnoid hemorrhage.
What type of drug should Sally be on?
Anti-arrhythmics
Bronchodilators
Vasoactives
Arrhythmias are not a
common condition
following a SAH
Broncho spasms are not
a common condition
following a SAH
Yes! Vasospasms are a
common condition
following SAH
Cushing triad
• Can aid in the diagnosis of a hemorrhagic
stroke.
• Consists of
– Widening pulse pressure (elevated systolic blood
pressure and normal or low diastolic blood
pressure)
– Irregular respirations
– Bradycardia
(Emergency medical paramedic, 2012)
Question 7
Sally showed signs of the Cushing triad on
presentation. Which signs did she present with
are part of the Cushing triad?
Back to case study
Blood pressure of
214/74
Correct!
Temperature of
99.4
No, this is not a sign in
the Cushing triad.
Irregular heart
rate
No, bradycardia is a
sign but not irregular
heart rate.
Lets Review
• Hemorrhagic strokes are either intra-axial or
Extra-axial
• One of the major contributing factors causing
hemorrhagic strokes is hypertension
• Signs and Symptoms are usually sudden onset
most often seen with a severe headache
• Diagnosis and Treatment are based off of
location, severity and cause
Hemorrhagic Strokes
After workup, Sally was diagnosed with a
Subarachnoid hemorrhage from a cerebral
aneurysm after MRI confirmation. She was taken
to immediate surgery for an aneurysm clipping
and evacuation. She is now recovering in the ICU
and started on Nimotop to control vasospasms.
She remains weak on her right side and continues
to have expressive aphasia. She will begin an
intensive rehabilitation program to regain some
of her independence.
Literature Cited
• American Stroke Association (2011, Jan 14). Types of Strokes: Hemorrhagic
bleeds. Retrieved from
http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/AboutStroke/TypesofStrok
e/HemorrhagicBleeds/Hemorrhagic-Bleeds_UCM_310940_Article.jsp
• Continuum Health Partners Centers for Endovascular Surgery (2012). Types
of Brain (Cerebral) Aneurysm. Retrieved from
http://neuro.wehealny.org/endo/cond_aneurysms.asp
• The Internet Stroke Center: an independent web resource for information
about care and research (2012). About stroke. Retrieved from
http://www.strokecenter.org/patients/about-stroke/what-is-a-stroke/
• Porth, C.M. & Matfin, G. (2008). Pathophysiology: Concepts of altered
health. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• PubMed Health (2012). Extradural hematoma. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002385/
• PubMed Health (2012). Subdural hematoma. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001732/